Sofa bed



July 20, 1943. 4 R. A. BURTON 2,324,675

' SOFA BED l* Filedynec. 3i, 1942 3 sheets-sheet 1 23 24 eral/D191' '-G-i ,51

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July 20, 1943.V R A. BURTON SOFA BED FiIed DeC. 3l, 1942 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W lll July 2o, 1943. R A. BURTON 2,3?.475

Filed Dec. 3l, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

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- www Patented July 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcE SOFA BED Robert Allen Burton, High Point, N. C., assigner to Barton Upholstery Company, a corporation of North Carolina i Application December 31, 1942, Serial No. 479,77!!

7 Claims.V

,The present invention relates to sofa` beds, and particularly to a hinge construction `for pivotally connecting the seat and back sections of the soia bed to each other and to the bed frame.

At the present time, due to the shortage of -V will be suiiiciently sturdy to sustain the weight of the seat and back sections, particularly when the device is being converted from sofa tc bed position and vice Versa. The present `invention is designed to solve this problem and to provide a construction which will readilyitake the place of the metal structures and be sufficiently sturdy to effectively withstand the strains and stresses I usually imposed upon the metal hinge elements. With the foregoing and other objects inview,

I the invention will now` be more fully described,

the seat raised to permit the notch ofthe latch `to engage the shoulder on the rail;

' Figure 3 `is a similar view, showing the back raised by the seat to a normal couch use position;

Figure 4 is a similar view, showing the seat liftedand moved far enough to the rear to cause the elevating dog to engage the should-er on the rail;

Figure 5 is a similar view, showing the dog tripped in the downward movement of the seat;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of the associated seat, back and bed frame members;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line l-l of Figure 1; 7

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 oi Figure 1; l

Figure 9 is a detail View of thelatch element; vFigure 10 is an outside face view of the complete frame outline, on a reduced scale, in relation to the dotted outline of the sofa, and

Figure 1l is a View of a modied form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings,` and'particularlyto Figure 10, there is disclosed a sofa bed It incorporating the construction of the present invention.` This bed comprises a base or frame I I `supporting the seat and back sections I2 and i3, respectively. As is usual in pieces of furniture of this type, the base or bed frame II is of vsubstantially rectangular formation, comprising front and rear panels I4 and I5, respectively, and end panels I6. Legs orother suitable supporting elements I'I are attached to the base I I and sup- Vport the same in slightly elevated position. Upon the outer face of each end panel I6 is mounted a hinge supporting bracket I8. At the upper `end dof each bracket I8 is a fixed pivot I9, about which .thexseat and back sections I2 and I3 are mount- `ed, te swing to different positions of adjustment,

as will be hereinafterV described.

' Since each end section incorporating the hinge elements is identical in construction, only one will be described in detail, but it is to be underi stood that there is a set of these elements at each end of the base II, pivotally secured to its support i8 `by the fixed pivot I9. While substantially all of the elements of these sections are preferably forrned of wooden parts, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in this respect, and that theseelements maybe made of other suitable available material.

Referring Vnow to Figures 1 to 6, there is disclosed the preferred form of the invention. Y The back section I3 is preferably of rectangular formation, including a longitudinally extending outer panel 20 and end panels 2| connected at their outer ends to the front panel. Each end panel 2l is connected to an inner longitudinally extending bottom rail 22. In like manner, the seat section I2 is provided with a longitudinally extending outer panel 23 and end panels 24 having their front ends connected to the panel 2S. The longitudinally extending bottom rail 25 also connects the end panels 24 similarly to the bottom rail 22.

As will be observed, each end panel 2l of the back is provided with an upper extension 26 which extends slightly over into the area of the seat section I2. The inner end of the end panel V24 of the seat section is cut away somewhat to 28 (see Figures 1 and 6r). The upper edge of this block 2l ispreferably contiguous with the upper edge of the panel 24, and the block extends inwardly beyond the inner end of the panel 24 and overlaps the extension 26 of panel 2|. A pair of aligned dowel holes are formed in these overlapping portions to receive the dowel I9 which also passes through a hole in the bracket I8 to form the fixed pivot about which the sections I2 and I3 swing. It will be observed that the inner portion of the seat panel 24 is cut away to provide sufficient clearance to permit the panels 2| and 24 to freely swing about their pivot I9.

Inwardly of the block 21 and extending parallel and in spaced relation thereto is a cross bar 29. The outer end of this bar is secured to the longitudinal panel 23, while the inner end terminates substantially coincident with the inner end of the block 21. An inner longitudinally extending rail 3D (see Figures 1 and 6) has one end secured to the cross bar 29, while its other end is secured to the like cross bar 29 positioned at the opposite end of the frame structure.

The space between the block 21 and the cross bar 29 is sufficiently wide to receive one end of a wooden latch 3|. Both the members 21, 29, and the latch, are provided with aligned openings for receiving a dowel 32 constituting a pivot upon which the latch 3| is mounted. The free end of this latch is cut away to form a notched portion 33, and a releasing dog 34 is pivotally mounted on one side of the latch in rear of the notch 33. The free end of this dog 34, however, extends into the area of the notch 33 and is likewise provided with a notch 35 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

An end rail 36 forming part of the back frame structure is secured to the inner face of its respective end panel 2|, The upper face of this rail terminates substantially below the top of the end panel 2| and is preferably smooth, constituting a supporting shelf 31 upon which the free notched end of the latch 3| is adapted to slide when the sections I2 and I3 are moved about the fixed pivot I9 during movement of the sections from one position of adjustment to the other. While this shelf may be substantially straight, I prefer that it be slightly curved or arcuate in construction adjacent its inner end, so that the inner end of the latch is slightly raised above the surface, in the bed position of the seat and back. In this connection, the free end of the elevating dog 34 will rest upon the arcuate portion of the supporting shelf (see Figure l). I find that the different elements operate more smoothly by having this portion of the rail 36 arcuate.

As will be observed (see Figure l), the upper surface of the inner end of the rail 36 is cut away to provide a shoulder 38, which shoulder is adapted to be engaged by the notch 33 of the latch 3| to retain the back in its raised operative position, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail. In order to urge the latch into engagement with the rail 36 and to assure that the notch 33 will engage the shoulder 38, a flat wooden leaf spring 39 is provided, This spring has its outer end secured to the top surface 31 of the rail and is sufficiently flexible to permit its being flexed to the position shown in Figure l, wherein the portion adjacent its free end is in contact with the top of the latch 3| and urges it toward the top surface 31 of the rail 36.

`In order to insure that the latch will be free to operate in its accustomed manner and to prevent any clogging action due to accidental penetration of upholstery or other foreign matter between the latch and the shelf, there is provided a protective casing 49 consisting of a vertical plate or board 4| secured to the inner side face of the rail 36, and a top plate 42 extending over the top of the latch and spring and secured between the plate 49 and the inner wall of the end panel 2|. It is to be understood that this covering is not absolutely necessary to the operation of the latch member, and may be omitted if desired.

Referring again to Figures l to 6 and assuming that it is desired to move the sections I2 and i3 from their bed position shown in Figure l to the sofa or couch use position, this is accomplished by initially swinging the seat section l2 about its pivot I9 to the position shown in Figure 2. During the movement of the seat section about its pivot, the latch 3| will slide inwardly upon the top surface 31 of the rail until the notch 33 has dropped into engagement with the shoulder 38. When this has been accomplished, the position of the seat is then reversed, That is, it is swung downwardly to its horizontal position, and because of the interlocking connection between the latch notch 33 and the shoulder 3B, the back section will be moved to its normal operative position shown in Figure 3. It will be observed that the construction of the latch and shoulder is such that the pressure exerted on the back when in normal use will have the effect of urging the latch into interlocking engagement with the shoulder. Because of the fact that each latch is of strong sturdy construction and interlocks with the rail shoulder which, in itself, constitutes a portion of the frame structure of the back portion, a relatively solid and rigid construction is provided which will withstand the normal strain and stresses imposed upon the sofa bed.

When it is again desired to move the back and seat sections to their horizontal bed position shown in Figure 1, this may be easily and quickly accomplished by initially swinging the back sec- -tion I3 to a substantially horizontal position, such as shown in Figure 2. This will simultaneously raise the seat section I2. Thereafter, the seat should be moved further about its pivot to the position shown in Figure 4. It will be observed that with the sections in this position, the latch notch will be moved slightly away from the shoulder 3B, while the notch portion 35 of the dog 34 will have dropped into engagement with the shoulder 38. Thereafter, a quick downward pull upon the seat will initially cause the dog 34 to pivot about the shoulder 38. This will cause the dog, together with the free end of the latch, to be raised, so that its notch 33 will clear the shoulder 38. The'downward movement of the seat is continued until it reaches its horizontal position, and such movement will slide the latch 3| and the dog 34 inwardly upon the top surface 31 of the rail 36 back to the position shown in Figure 1. These operations may be repeated as often as desired, and in view of the substantial counter-balancing of one section relative to the other, little or no exertion is necessary to change the device from bed to sofa position, or from sofa to bed position.

Referring to Figure 11, there is disclosed a modified form of the invention. In this connection, the seat 43 and back 44 are substantially the same construction as the seat I2 and back I 3. Furthermore, the latch 45 is pivoted at 46 upon the seat section similar to the latch 3|. This latch is also provided with a notch 41 corresponding to the notch 33. However, instead of 4employing ay dog mounted eXteri-orly of the latch, such as the dog 34, there is provided avdog 43 pivotally mounted in a centrally disposed recess in the free end of the latch and in advance of the notch 4l. A pivot pin 49 constitutes the pivot about which the dog rotates.

A rail 50 is secured to the inner face of the end panel 5|, and this rail is provided with a shoulder 52 similar to the shoulder 38. In lthis modification, however, a notched :indentation 53 isalso formed in the top surface of the rail, in advance of the shoulder 52.

The same routine is utilizedlin converting the sofa bed from bed position to sofa or couch-like position asthat described hereinbefcre. That is, the seat section 43 is initially moved about its pivot to raised position to permit the notch 4'! to drop into engagement with the shoulder `52. This willposition the free end of the dog 33 directly in advance of .the indentationEZ. Thereafter, the seat is swung downwardly about its pivot to its horizontal position, and this will simultaneously raise the back to its operative position.

In again converting the device to bed position, the back and seat are moved about their pivot to a position similar to that shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thereafter, the seat is moved to the position shown in Figure 4, so as to slide the l notch 4l out of engagement with the shoulder 52. This movement will also slide the dog d8 into a position whereby its free end will engage the indentation 53. Thereafter, bya quick downward pull on the seat section, the free end of the dog 48 will pivot in the indentation 53 and at the same time move the dog about its pivot 43. This will have the effect of raising the latch 45, so that its notch will be free of the shoulder 52. By a continued downward movement of the seat portion 43, the latch will continue to slide on the top surface of the rail 5l! back to the position shown in Figure 11. v

It is to be understood that a spring 5t similar to the spring 39 is secured .to the rail 5t and has its free end normally in engagement with the latch 45 to urge the same into engagement with the rail. It is also to be understood that a covering member similar to the cover 4d may be applied to this form of the device.

Tft is to be further understood that :the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings, and that .the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including an end panel, a rail positioned longitudinally of and adjacent one of said end panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail being provided with a shoulder, a latch pivotally carried by said other section and having a notch formed therein for engagement with said shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another, and means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit movement of the sections to another position of adjustment. i

2. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including an end panel, a rail positioned longitudinally of and adjacent one of said end panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail having a shoulder formed thereon adjacent the inner end thereof, a latch pivotally carried by said other section and having a notch formed therein and engageable with the shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another,` means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from theshoulder to permit the latch to slide on the rail and thereby allow movement of the sections to another position of adjustment, and a fiat leaf spring having one end secured to the rail and its free end engageable with the top of the latch to urge it into contact with the rail shelf.

3. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including a frame having end panels, a rail mounted longitudinaliy of and adjacent one of said section panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf., said rail being Iprovided with a shoulder, ablock secured to the inner end of the panel of the other section, a cross-bar spaced from and extending longitudinally of said block and panel, a latch pivotally mounted between the inner ends of said block and cross-bar and having a notch formed therein for engagement with said shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, sai-d latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another, and means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit movement of the sections to another position of adjustment.

4. Asofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including a wooden frame having end panels, a wooden rail mounted longitudinally of and adjacent one of said section pan-Y els and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail being provided with a shoulder, a wooden latch pivotally carried by said other section and having a notch formed therein for engagement with said shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another, means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit movement of the sections to another position of adjustment, and a protective covering for said latch and rail comprising a board secured to the inner face of the rail and extending upwardly therefrom, and a second board bridging the panel and first board and secured thereto.

5. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including an end panel, a rail positioned longitudinally of and adjacent one of said end panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail having a shoulder formed thereon adjacent the inner end thereof, a latch pivotally carried by said other section and having a notch formed therein and engageable with the shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the Sectio-ns from one position to another, means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit the latch to slide on the rail and thereby allow movement of the sections to another position of adjustment,

and a flat leaf spring having one end secured to the rail and its free end engageable with the top of the latch to urge it into contact with the rail shelf, the top surface of said rail adjacent the shoulder being curved away from the leaf spring to facilitate operation of the latch and to reduce pressure on said leaf spring when said latch moves from sofa to bed position.

6. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, one section comprising a rectangular frame having side panels and end panels connecting the side panels, a rail extending between and having its ends connected to the side panels, said rail extending longitudinally of and in contact with the inner face of one of the end panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail being provided with a shoulder adjacent its inner end; a latch pivotally mounted on the Iother section and having a notch formed therein for engagement with said shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another, and means for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit movement of the sections to another position of adjustment.

7. A sofa bed having hinged back and seat sections, each section including an end panel, a rail positioned longitudinally of and adjacent one of said panels and having a top surface constituting a latch supporting shelf, said rail having a shoulder formed thereon adjacent the inner end thereof, a latch pivotally carried by said other section and having a notch formed therein and engageable with the shoulder to maintain the sections in one position of adjustment, said latch being supported on the top surface of said rail and slidable on the same during movement of the sections from one position to another, means carried by said latch for disengaging the latch notch from the shoulder to permit the latch to slide on the rail and thereby allow movement of the sections to another position of adjustment, and spring means carried by one of said sections and engageable with said latch to urge it into contact with the rail shelf.

ROBERT ALLEN BURTON. 

